Lifting jack



M. B. LUCKER LIFTING JACK y Filed Sept. 2l, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec.31, 1940.'

M.B.LUCKER LIFTING JACK Filed Sept. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedDec. 3l, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,227,394- LIFTING JACK Millard B. Lucker,St. Joseph, Mich., assignor to Auto Specialties Manufacturing Company,St.

Joseph. Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 21,1936,Serial No. 101,693

13 Claims.

This invention relates to lifting jacks, and more particularly to a jackof the friction collar type especially adapt-ed for use with automotivevehicles and the like. Thel present invention is particularly adapted asanimprovement over the type of jack disclosed in my prior ledapplication, Serial No. 74,969, filed April 17, 1936. It is to beunderstood, however, that in so far as certain aspects of my presentinvention are.

concerned, such aspects are adaptable to types of jack other than thatdisclosed in said pending application.

In jacks of the type disclosed in my prior application, it has beenfound that in certain instances, and particularly when the upstandingshaft or standardwhich corresponded to standard in my prior ledapplication-became somewhat rusty, the lifting collar or actuating clamp2|, when moved downwardly to the position shown in Figure 5 of saidapplication, tended to stick to the upright so that the springs of saidprior application were insulloient to slide the clamp back to normalposition, or that shown in Figure 2 of said prior application. 2UTherefore, one of the objects of my present invention is to provide ajack of the type shown in my prior application, wherein positive meansis provided for returning the actuating or lifting clamp toi its upperposition, whereby to eliminateany possibility of the same sticking inthe lowermost position.

Another object of my invention resides in providing a jack of theforegoing and other types wherein the manually operable member foroperating the actuating clamp 2| is provided with means for not onlypositively moving the actu-x ating clamp downwardly relative to thestationary standard, but is also provided withupositive means for movingthe actuating clamp upwardly to return it to a new clamping position.

These and other objects of my invention will `Figure 5 is a view similarto Figure 2 but showing the actuating clamp in operated position;

Figures 6 and 7 are views showing two modications of the cross sectionof the standard; and

Figures 8 to 11 are other modifications of the 5 manner of operating theactuating clamp from the actuating lever. E

Referring `to the drawings, it will be seen that I the present inventionis best illustrated as applied to a jack of my pending application,Serial 10 No. 74,969, aforesaid, and comprises a base l0 having anupstanding shaft br standard fixed thereto in any suitable manner, as bymeans. of a pin or the like.' The standard carries a lifting body I2 ofthe jack which is adapted for 154 sliding movement therealong. 'Ihelifting body is preferably composed of two metal 'castings I3 and |4, asbes-t seen in Figure 4. These two castings are preferably securedtogether at their bottoms by means of screws or rivets I5 which 2o passthrough holes in flanges formed at the bottoms of the castings. The body'parts' are secured together atthe top by means of the load engagingsaddle -I6 4which embraces both body parts and which is held againstremoval from the body 25 by means of a beaded flange formed at theextreme upper portion of the body castings. The saddle is retainedagainst movement downwardly along the body members by means of theflange I8 formed thereon. 'I'he saddle is rotatable about 3o the body sothat its object or load engaging portion I9 may be readily moved to thedesired load engaging position. The load, as illustrated, is a portion Bof the bumper of an Vautomotive vehicle, as the lifting jack of thepresent invention is particularly adapted for use'in such con-` nection.As is well known, the bumper is disposed at .considerablefheight abovethe ground. It is understood, however, that the jack'may be applied toother portions of a vehicle or to other types of loads to be raised.

A housing 20 formed at the lower portion of the lifting body carries theactuating clamp 2| and the holding clamp 22 of a. jack operatingmechanism. As will be seen by reference to Figure 5, the actuating'clamp has-formed on the upper face thereof a lug 23 adapted forengagement with the body housing when the actuating clamp is in itsupper normal position, as'shown in Figure 2. A pair of diametricallydisposed lugs '5o 24 are also formed on the upper face of the actuatingclamp to which the lower vends of a pair of springs 25 are secured..'I'he upper ends of these springs are anchored to projections 26 formedon the lifting body members. 'I'he op- 55 lerating lever 21 for the jackis pivoted by means of a pin 28 to the body members and has an operatingportion 29 adapted for engagement with the top of the actuating clamp ata point diametrically spaced from the projection 23. The holding clamp22 has an extending portion 30 journalled in an opening 3| formed in thehousing 20, as best shown in Figure 3. The holding clamp is also formedwith a projection 32 adapted to extend through an opening 33 formed inthe housing diametrically to the opening 3|. A compression spring 34 isarranged in a recess 35 formed on the lower side of the projection 32 ofthe holding clamp 22 and the lower face 35 of the housing I2, wherebysaid spring normally holds the holding clamp `irrcanted position. Thehousing also carries an integral outstanding projection 31 which, asbest shoyvn in Figure 1, is upwardly and laterally spaced from theprojection 32 of the holding clamp. The release bar 36, by which thejack is lowered, is adapted for cooperation on its upper face with thehousing lug 31 and on its lower face with the projection 32 of theholding clamp, as will be best understood by reference to Figure 1. Lug31 forms a fulcrum for this bar.

All of the foregoing construction is shown in my prior application,Serial No. 74,969. The present invention differs therefrom by theprovision of interconnecting means between the actuating clamp '2| andthe actuating lever r2I, which devices are provided with means forpositivelyraising the actuating clamp whether or not the springs arepresent. It is understood.

however, that I prefer to kprovide my jack with fit into the notchformed between the furcations` 38 and 39 in the assembly of the jack.

In assembling the jack the two parts I3 and I4 of the lifting body I2are brought into operative juxtaposition with the holding clamp 22 andthe actuating clamp 2-I arranged within their housing portions. Thesprings 25, which have been previously secured to the actuating clamp,are connected to the projections 26 on the body parts, and the springsare stretched slightly as the actuating clamp is forced downwardly intothe housing portion 20 of the body. With the body parts thus positioned,the screw: or .rivets I5 may be inserted to secure the lower bodyportions together. The load engaging saddle I6 is then slipped over theupper portions of the body parts into engagement with the flange I8,after which the flange I1 may be beaded over the top of the saddle tosecure it in position. The saddle in turn secures the upper portions ofthe body members together. The compression spring 34 and the operatinglever 21 may then be mounted in position, after which, upon compressionof the spring 34, the entire movable lifting portion of the jack may bemoved downwardly about the standard' I I. assembling the device theprong 40 on the actuating lever 21 has been inserted between thefurcations 38 and 33 of the actuating clamp 2|.

It will be understood that in thus The standard shaft insures that thesprings 25 will not slip oif of the lugs 26.

In operation, the compression spring 34 normally cants the holding clampas shown in Figure 3, whereby to cause the biting edges of its centralopening to grip the standard and prevent the lifting body I2 fromdownward movement along the standard. The actuating clamp 2| is held inits normal uncanted and upward position by the springs 25 when suchsprings are used. As the end of the operating lever 21 is movedupwardly, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, its engaging portion 2Scauses the actuating clamp 2| to cant whereby to bring the biting edgesof its central opening into tight engagement against the standard I I.As the movement of the operating lever is continued as indicated inFigure 5, the actuating clamp acts as a reaction base causing the entirelifting casting to move upwardly along the standard. The holding clampdoes not prevent such upward movement, but moves upwardly with the bodyI2, and by reason of the spring 34 prevents'any retrograde movement,thus holding the body in its new upward position. As the operating leveris returned toI normal position, the lug 40 positively 'engages theunder side of the furcation 38, thereby positively returning theactuating clamp to upward position. The springs 25 draw the actuatingclamp into normal upward uncanted position, thus assisting the positivemovement of the connection between the actuating lever 21 and theactuating clamp 2|. This positive upward movement of the actuating clamp2| will overcome any tendency of-the clamp to stick due to the presenceof rust or dirt on the standard II, which might otherwise prevent thereturn of the actuating clamp to uncanted position in the event that therust or dirt is strong enough to overcome the force of the returningsprings 25. The operation may be repeated until the lifting body isbrought up to the desired position. Prior to engagement with the load,the entire lifting body may be lifted by hand upwardly along thestandard II, without manipulation of the operating lever 21, the clamps2| and 22 readily permitting 'this preliminary adjustment movement.Theiload engaging saddle member I6 may be readily revolved about thebody whereby to bring its load engaging portion I9 into the desiredoperative position. These features insure speed of jack placement andload raising.

To release the lifting body, the release bar 36 is brought into positionas shown in Figure 1 with its upper side in engagement with the housinglug31 and its lower side in engagement with the projection 32 on theholding clamp. As the right end of the bar- 36 isnow lowered, the spring34 will be compressed, allowing the holding clamp to release its gripupon the standard. Downward movement of the lifting body under the loadcauses a corresponding lowering of the left end of the release bar, andthis results in the relief of downward pressure against the projection32 of the holding clamp. T he spring 34 thereupon causes the holdingclamp to again grip the standard II. In other words, the lifting body I2can be lowered only at the same time that the right end of the releasebar is being lowered. If movement of the operating end of the releasebar is stopped, the downward movement of the lifting body alsoimmediately stops.l By this means the downward movement of the liftingbody is under accurate and positive control at all times whereby toinsure 4complete safety as well as ease of operation.

In Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings I have shown different crosssectional shapes of the standard I I. These are shown at I I' and I Irespectively. Referring to Figures 8 to 11 of 4the drawings, I haveillustrated. many diiferent ways of obtaining substantially the sameresult shown by the mech- -anism in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, it ofcourse being obvious that other ways may likewise be used within thescope of the present invention.

In Figure 8 I have shown the actuating clamp 42 as provided with anupstanding lug 44 spaced from the top surface of the actuating lug so asto provide a pocket in which a prong 48 on the actuating lever 4E isadapted to operate, the prong 4d serving to push downwardly on the topsurface of the actuating clamp 42 in order to cant the actuating clamp42. 'Likewise the prong 48 cooperates with the tooth or lug 44 forturning the actuating cam in vcase the cam h-as a tendency to stick inits clamping action. In this construction the hook or prong 44 willcooperate with the tooth on the handle socket of the actuating lever 4t,thereby lifting the actuating cam to its uncanted position at the top ofthe stroke.

lin Figure 9 a similar result is accomplished by means of a link 52pivotally connected as at 5B to the end portion 60 of the actuatingclamp ttl rIhe other end of the link 52 is slotted as at'56 to receive apin 54 integrally formed or fastened to the actuating clamp 50. In thisc-ase the action is substantially the same.

In Figure 10 the link 6E is formed on the actuating clamp 94, beingprovided with 'a slot BB in which a pin 'I0 on the prong 'I2 of theactuating lever 'i4 operates so that when the lever 'I4 is raised theprong 'l2 thereof will press downwardly on the top of the actuatingclamp 64 to cant the same as hereinbefore described, and then on thereturn stroke of the actuating lever 'I4 the lost motion connection willfirst take place, .after which the pin 1I] will ride against the uppersurface of the slot 68 to lift the actuating clamp 64 to its uncantedposition.

A similar 'result is obtained las shown bythe mechanism in Figure 11,wherein the two furcations dll and 82 of the actuating lever 'I8 are onopposite sides of the actuating clamp I9. In each of these instances Iprefer to use the actu ating clamp with the spring meansshown in dottedlines', all as hercinbefore described in connection with the operationof Figures i to 5, -inclusive.

It is understood that yin some instances the present invention may beadapted to a type of friction grip lifting jack or shore wherein insteadof having a leversuch as the present 4lever 2l permanently pivoted tothe body I2, the levervis independent thereof and is adapted forinsertion through an opening in the housing to engage the actuatingclamp. .In this type of construction the independent lever is providedwith means forming a disconnectible fulcrum point with the body, and

obviously will be provided with the cam 29 andv the lug 40, which latterlug is positioned between the furcations 38 and 39 on the actuatingclamp 2l when the lever is placed in proper actuating position. i Theclaims of this case are directed more particularly to the operativeconnection between the operating lever and the actuating clamp, andassociated structures, other features disclosed but not herein claimed,being claimed in applicants copending applications, includingapplications,

Serial No. 43,752, filed October 5, 1935, and Serial No. 74,969, filedApril 17, 1936.

It ls obvious that various modifications may be made in the specificembodiments ofthe invention shown for the purpose of illustration.Accordingly the invention is not to be limited to the preciseconstructions shown and described, but only as indicated in thefollowing claims.

y The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a lifting jack of the friction grip type, an elongated support, abody embracing the support and movable relatively thereto, a holdingclamp on the body and embracing the elongated support, said holdingclamp being normally canted to prevent relative movement between thebody and the elongated support in one direction, release means foruncanting the holding clamp to allow such movement, and an actuatingclamp embracing the elongated support and( normally uncanted relative tosaid elongated support, said actuating clamp having furcations, saidbody having an i opening opposite said furcations adapted to receive alever, 'said lever having a cam-like portion adapted to engage theactuat- V ing clamp whereby to cant the clamp and to 2. In a liftingjack of the friction grip type, anv

elongated support, a body embracing the support and movable relativelythereto, a holding clamp on the body and embracing the elongatedsupport, said holding clamp being normally canted to prevent relativemovement between the body and the elongated support in one direction,release means for uncanting the holding `clamp to allow such movement,an actuating clamp embracing the elongated support and normally uncantedrelative to said elongated support, said actuating clamp havingfurcations, said body having an opening opposite said furcatlons adaptedto receive a lever, said lever having a cam-like portion adapted toengage the actuating clamp whereby to cant the `clamp and to cause therelative movement'of said body to said support in a direction along saidsupport, said lever also having a lug insertable between the furcationsof said actuating clamp whereby on move ment of said lever to return thecanted actuating clamp to normally uncanted position, and spring meansfor normally urging said actuating clamp to normal uncanted position.

B. In a lifting jack of the friction grip type, an

f elongated support, a body embracing the support ing clamp toallow suchmovement, an actuating` tions on said actuating clamp. and an actuatinglever adapted to be inserted through said opening, said actuating leverhaving a portion adapted to engage the actuating clamp to cant the clamprelatively to the elongated support whereby said body may be movedlongitudinally of and relatively to the elongated support, and saidlever also having a lug adapted to lie between the furcations of saidactuating clamp whereby on proper movement of said lever to shift saidactuating clamp to uncanted position relatively to said elongatedsupport` 4. In a lifting jack of the friction grip type, an elongatedsupport having a base, a body embracing the support and relativelymovable to the support, a holding clamp anchored on the body andembracing the elongated support, said holding clamp being normallycanted to prevent relativemovement between the body and `the elongatedsupport in one direction, release means for uncanting the holding clampto allow such movement, an actuating clamp embracing the elongatedsupport,said actuating clamp having an upstanding lug disposed on oneface thereof and adapted to engage the body at a point lying on adiametral line through the actuating clamp whereby to ,form a pivot forcanting and uncanting movement between the actuating clamp and the bodyrespectively, spring means engaging the actuating clamp at pointspassing through a diameter of the actuating clamp disposed at rightangles to the diametral line on the actuating clamp passing through theaforementioned pivotal lug of the actuating clamp for normally urgingthe actuating clamp to uncanted position relatively to the body and tothe elongated support, -said actuating clamp having spaced apartportions disposed in a diamet'ral line passing through the pivotal lugfor the actuating clamp, and an actuating lever having a cooperativeportion Vadapted to engage one of said last mentioned portions on theactuating clamp for shifting the actuating clamp to uncanted positionland for shifting the body relatively to the elongated support, andhaving another portion adapted to engage the other last mentionedportion of said'acytuating clamp for positively returning the actuatingclamp to uncanted position.

5. In a lifting jack, a base, an upstanding shaft mounted thereon, aload lifting member, means for frictionally gripping the member to theshaft, said means comprising a pair of frictional clampsl one of whichforms a part of means to move the member along the shaft and the otherof which is adapted to hold the member against retrograde movement onthe shaft, means including a spring and a lever member for controllingsaid moving clamp, said ,lever member being pivotally mounted on saidload lifting member and having a pair of spaced portions adapted toengage opposite portions of said moving clamp whereby -to enableactuation of this clamp by the lever member into gripping andnon-gripping positions with respect to the shaft, said lever memberbeing adapted to fulcrum 'upon the moving clamp to advance the loadlifting member along the shaft, a spring urging the holding clamp intogripping engagement, and meansl for releasing the holding clamp.

' 6. In a lifting jack of the friction grip type, a

base, an upstanding shaft mounted thereon, a

lifting body'slidably mounted on said shaft, a laterally extending loadengaging member carried by said lifting body, a holding clamp 'mountedwithin said body and embracing the shaft, a

spring for canting said holding clamp whereby to prevent movement of thebody downwardly along the shaft, release means for uncanting the holdingclamp to permit such movement, an actuat-4 ing clamp also mounted withinthe body and embracing the shaft, spring means for controlling theoperation of said actuating clamp, and a lever assembly pivoted to thebody, said actuatingclamp having a radially projecting operatingportion, andthe lever assembly being provided with a pairlof spacedportions adapted to engage the radially projecting operating portion ofsaid actuating clamp on the upper and lower sides thereof whereby toenable the canting and uncanting of the actuating clamp as the leverassembly is pivoted with respect to the lifting body.

'7. A lifting jack comprising a base, a load-lifting member operativelysupported by the base, and means for moving the load-lifting memberrelative to the base comprising al housing, a pair of friction clampsassociated therewith, and a shaft extending through the housing and theclamps, one of said clamps being an actuating clamp and the other ofsaid clamps being a holding clamp, a spring for holding the holdingclamp in canted gripping engagement with the shaft,

a spring for holding the actuating clamp in predetermined position withrespect to the shaft and for controlling the operations of saidactuating clamp, an operating lever pivotallyJr mounted, on the housing,said actuating clamp being provided with a pair of spaced projectionsand the operating leve'r being provided with a projection adapted to liebetween the spaced projections of the actuating clamp and to operativelycontact therewith during the pivotal movements of the lever, theoperating lever projection being adapted to engage one of the actuatingclamp projections to effect the canting of the clamp and the liftingmovement ofthe jack as the operating lever is pivoted in one direction,the actuating clamp spring serving to maintain said operative contactduring reverse pivotal movement of the operating lever, and saidoperating lever projection being adapted to makel operating contact withthe other clamp projection to effect the uncanting of the clamp in theevent of the failure of operation of said spring.

8. A lifting jack comprising a base, a load-lifting member operativelysupported by the base, and means for moving the load-lifting memberrelative to the base comprising a housing, a pair of friction clampsassociated therewith, and a shaft extending through the housing and theclamps, one of said clamps `being an actuating clamp and the other ofsaid clamps being a holding clamp, a spring for holding the holdingclamp in canted gripping engagement with the shaft, a 'spring forholding the actuating clamp in predetermined vposition with respect tothe shaft and for controlling the operations of said actuating clamp, anoperating lever pivotally mounted on the housing, said actuating clampbeing provided with a pair of spaced operating surfaces and theoperating lever being similarly provided with a pair of spaced operatingsurfaces adapted to respectively operatively contact with the operatingsurfaces of the actuating clamp during the pivotal movements of thelever, one of the operating surfaces of the lever being adapted toengage one of the operating surfaces of the actuating clamp to effectthe canting of the clamp and the lifting movement of the jack as theoperating lever is pivoted in one direction, the actuating clamp springserving tormaintain said operative contact 75 during reverse pivotalmovement of the operating lever, and the other operating surface of thelever of the clamp to effect the uncanting of the clamp in the event offailure of operation of said spring.

.9. A lifting jack comprising a base, an upstanding shaft mountedthereon, a` load-lifting housing longitudinally slidable on the shaft,and means `for moving the load-lifting housing along the shaftcomprising a pair of friction clamps Vassociated with the housing andmounted on the shaft, one of said clamps being an actuating clamp andthe other of said clamps being a holding clamp, a spring for holding theholding clamp .in canted gripping engagement with the shaft,

a spring for holding the actuating clamp in predetermined position withrespect to the shaft and for controlling the operations of saidactuating clamp; an operating lever pivotally mounted on the housing.said actuating clamp being provided with a pair of spaced projectionsand the operating lever being provided with a projection adapted to liebetween the spaced projections of the ac- Atuating clamp and to ,withduring the pivotal movements of the lever,

the operating lever projection being adapted to engage one of theactuating clamp projections to effect thecarnting of the clamp and thelifting movement of the jack as the operatingl lever is pivoted in onedirection, the actuating clamp spring serving to maintainsaid operativecontact during reverse pivotal movement of the operating lever, and saidoperating lever projection being adapted to make operating contact withthe other clamp Aprojectionto effect the uncanting of the clamp inv theevent of the failure of operation of said spring.

,10. A lifting jack comprising a base, an upstanding shaft mountedthereon, a load-lifting housing longitudinally slidable on the shaft,and means for moving the load-lifting housing along the shaft comprisinga pair of friction clamps operatively contact thereassociated with thehousing and mounted on the shaft, one of said clamps being an actuatingclamp and the other= of said clamps being a holding clamp, a spring forholding the-holding clamp in canted gripping engagement with the shaft,a spring for holding the actuating clamp in predetermined position withrespect to the shaft and for controlling the operations of saidactuating clamp, an operating lever pivotally mounted on the housing,said actuating clamp being provided with a pair of spaced operatingsurfaces and the operating lever being similarly provided with a pair ofspaced operating surfaces adapted to respectively operatively contactwith the operating surfaces of the actuating clamp during the pivotalmovements of the lever, one of the operating surfaces of the lever beingadapted to engage one of the operating surfaces of the actuating clampto effect the canting of the clamp and the lifting movement of the jackasA the operating lever is pivoted in one direction, the actuating clampspring serving to maintain 4said operative contact during reversepivotal movement of the operating lever, and the other operating surfaceof the lever being adapted to make operating contact with the otheroperating surface of the clamp -to eifectthe uncanting of the clamp inthe event of failure of operation of said spring.

11. A lifting jack as defined in claim 8 wherein the spaced operatingsurfaces of the operating lever are provided respectively on spacedoperating members associated with the operating lever.

12. A lifting jack as defined in claim 10 wherein the spaced operatingsurfaces of the operating lever are provided respectively on spacedoperating members associated with the operating.

lever.`

13. A lifting jack as dened in claim 8 wherein the spaced operatingsurfaces of the actuating clamp are provided on a projectionextendingradially from the body of the actuating clamp. B. LUCKER..

